2006 Carolina Panthers season

The 2006 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and the 5th under head coach John Fox.

Although the Panthers went into the 2006 season as favorites to win the NFC South, they finished with a disappointing record.

The Falcons opened the regular season on the road against the Carolina Panthers on September 10.

The 2006 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and the 5th under head coach John Fox.

Also in the draft, they selected Fresno St. CB Richard Marshall, Virginia Tech LB James Anderson, Miami University (FL) OT Rashad Butler, Ohio St. Safety Nate Salley, Virginia Tech TE Jeff King, Virginia Tech Center Will Montgomery, and Auburn DE Stanley McClover.

During free agency, they acquired WR Keyshawn Johnson from the Dallas Cowboys, C Justin Hartwig from the Tennessee Titans, and DT Maake Kemoeatu from the Baltimore Ravens.

Despite these large profile players, the team's biggest addition was the 27th pick of the 2006 NFL Draft, RB DeAngelo Williams of the University of Memphis.

Williams played in the first five games of the 2006 season and looked promising as an alternative to DeShaun Foster in the Carolina backfield, compiling an impressive average of 5.3 yards per carry.

In the 2006 regular season, the Rams’ non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC North, although they also played the Washington Redskins from the NFC East, and the Carolina Panthers from the NFC South.

However, it is important to note that the team's biggest playmaker, wide receiver Steve Smith, did not play due to a hamstring injury. Steve Smith returned, catching 7 passes for 102 yards, and QB Jake Delhomme threw his first touchdown pass of the season.

After suffering a hamstring injury and developing an ingrown toenail in training camp before the 2006 season, Smith returned to the field after missing two weeks of action.

The Bucs played one of their most heated rivals, the Carolina Panthers, at home.

QB Tony Romo completed a 3-yard TD pass to TE Jason Witten and kicker Mike Vanderjagt made a 38-yard field goal.

On October 25, Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells announced that Romo would be the Cowboys starting quarterback for the October 29 game against the Carolina Panthers on NBC Sunday Night Football, in Week 8 of the 2006 season.

But with ten minutes left in regulation, and with a 13–6 lead, Chris Gamble, returning a kick, attempted to perform a lateral trick play.

Kicker John Kasay was the only scorer for Carolina with two field goals.

Steve Smith returned, catching 7 passes for 102 yards, and QB Jake Delhomme threw his first touchdown pass of the season.

With two straight home wins under their belt, the Panthers flew to FedExField for an intraconference fight with the Washington Redskins.

After losing his first game as a starter to Tampa Bay, Campbell got his first NFL victory against the Carolina Panthers, bringing the Redskins out of a three-game losing streak.

In the second quarter, Carolina's troubles increased as QB Eli Manning completed a 28-yard TD to WR Plaxico Burress.

Finally regaining momentum, Manning threw three touchdowns in a win on the road against the Carolina Panthers, but then he stumbled badly in the final three games.

After a scoreless first quarter, Carolina's recent struggles continued with QB Ben Roethlisberger's 1-yard TD run, kicker Jeff Reed's 19-yard field goal, and Roethlisberger's 13-yard TD pass to RB Najeh Davenport.

In Week 15, Roethlisberger threw for 140 yards and a touchdown in a 37–3 rout of the Carolina Panthers.

Finally, in the fourth quarter, DE Mike Rucker helped put the game away as he sacked Rams QB Marc Bulger in St. Louis' endzone for a safety.

The 2006 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and the 5th under head coach John Fox.

The 2006 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and the 5th under head coach John Fox.